diff --git a/git_review/tests/__init__.py b/git_review/tests/__init__.py
index 1aa53ae..bc15885 100644
--- a/git_review/tests/__init__.py
+++ b/git_review/tests/__init__.py
@@ -179,6 +179,7 @@ class BaseGitReviewTestCase(testtools.TestCase, GerritHelpers):
         os.environ['HOME'] = self.home_dir
         os.environ['XDG_CONFIG_HOME'] = self.xdg_config_dir
         os.environ['GIT_CONFIG_NOSYSTEM'] = "1"
+        os.environ['EMAIL'] = "you@example.com"
         if not os.path.exists(self.home_dir):
             os.mkdir(self.home_dir)
         if not os.path.exists(self.xdg_config_dir):